Betrayal (49 page)

Cassidy sat with the morning paper, shaking her head. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Alex was leaning against the counter sipping her coffee. “I’d like to…” The teacher laughed. “I have to say, Cass, you seem to be handling this pretty well.”

The teacher set the newspaper on the table and smiled. “Alex, in the last month I have seen my ex-husband at death’s door, been held hostage by a sadistic freak, left my job, moved my entire life, found out my father was an alcoholic….told the truth about a secret I thought I would have to keep forever. Not to mention seeing the father of my son murdered, facing the possibility of losing the person I love more than my own life… and getting engaged.” Alex couldn’t help but laugh. Hearing Cassidy rattle off the events in their lives like a laundry list made them sound completely absurd. “I don’t think there is much Christopher could say or do that could possibly surprise me. None of it is true. He should have been a movie producer with the plots he devises in his head.”

Alex crossed the room and took a seat next to the teacher. “One part of it is true, Cassidy.”

Cassidy raised her brow and waited for the agent to continue. “Jackson and I, well…when we were at the academy. It didn’t last long. We were kids away from…”

“I see,” the teacher smiled.

“I hope you’re not…”

“Alex, I would hope that neither of us would be threatened by the other’s past. Why didn’t you tell me last night?” Alex shrugged. “Because he was a man?”

“R.J. was the only…”

“It must have been hard, Alex…I mean, losing him.”

Alex’s eyes scanned the floor at her feet. “He was one of my best friends, Cassidy. I didn’t think anyone knew. I mean that we ever actually,” she sighed. “I felt so lost after that day. Sabeen was dead, R.J.” She lifted her eyes to the teacher. “He would have loved you.”

Cassidy smiled and kissed Alex’s cheek. “So, what do we do?”

“Nothing we can do. Though I wish you hadn’t stopped me last week when…”

Cassidy laughed. “Is this going to hurt you? I mean at work?”

Alex shook her head. “No. I think it was devised to hurt you.”

“I guess it was.”

“Are you going to…”

“I am going to make us all breakfast and then you are going to spend the afternoon with Jane while the girls and I take Dylan to the arcade,” Cassidy answered as she made her way to the stove.

“Cass?”

“Yeah?”

Alex slipped in behind the teacher. “Let’s do it when we get back from London.”

“Do what?” Cassidy asked.

“You know.”

Cassidy turned in the agent’s arms and looked at her in confusion. “No…what are you…”

“Married, Cassidy. Let’s get married when we get back.”

“You’re serious.”

Alex nodded. “We can make the plans while we are away this weekend.” Cassidy’s face contorted slightly. “What?” the agent asked. “I mean, if you don’t…”

“Is that really what you want?” Alex smiled. Cassidy returned the expression and kissed the agent. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Alex asked hopefully.

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Are you sure, Cass…because…”

“I’m sure,” she stroked the agent’s cheek and turned back to her task. “Now, go pry that son of yours away from his game and save Jane and the girls; will you?”

Alex kissed the top of the teacher’s head and bounced off to her assigned task. Cassidy closed her eyes and steadied herself. The congressman’s actions, the presence of family, and all of the changes in her life were overwhelming. Almost losing Alex, seeing Dylan with his sisters, it brought reality crashing down on her. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and looked out the kitchen window. How was it possible she wondered, that amid so much turmoil she was happier than she ever dreamed possible, and all at once more frightened than she had ever experienced? One thing was clear to her now; life was unpredictable. She was not going to waste one moment of it, not ever again.

“Alex, I know what you think,” Jane said.

“Jane, he was CIA. How could you not know that?”

The older woman sat silently for a moment contemplating her answer. “I did know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me when….”

“Oh, Alex,” Jane rose from her seat and crossed the room. She stood still for a moment and then turned back to the agent. “Let’s take a walk.”

“Why?”

Jane looked at Alex and her jaw tightened. “It’s a beautiful day, Alex. Let’s get some air.”

The pair headed out the back door and walked slowly toward the stream. “You think someone is listening? In the house?” Alex asked.

“No,” Jane said plainly. “But I think the Secret Service is right out front.”

“How long will they stay on full detail?”

“A year, supposedly.”

“So…” Alex continued.

Jane let out a heavy breath. “I’ve always known, Alex… because I am CIA.”

Alex stopped abruptly. “What?”

The former first lady laughed. “That is really so surprising?”

“Did he know?” Jane shook her head ‘no’. “Jesus Christ. What else don’t I know?”

“Alex, the agency is a strange place. It’s something we were all born into. We did not all take the same path, however. Even the admiral doesn’t know about my placement. That came at my father’s reluctant hand.”

“So, that’s how you know about The Collaborative.”

“After you came back from Iraq, John….he was different. I told you that. Things he would say in his sleep. The pieces, well…it was clear that whatever happened there, it filtered from a different source. Matt suspected Admiral Brackett. There are two, Alex; two very different agendas within the intelligence community. Which has the upper hand at any given time dictates many things. The Collaborative is the,” she slowed her pace slightly. “It’s the business of intelligence, Alex. The money machine. It operates outside presidential findings and legislative oversight.”

“The objective?” Alex asked.

“Some would say money. Others would say the national interest. Depends, I suppose, on whom you are asking.”

“And you?”

“Me? I thought I left it all behind when I married John. I was low level. Information was my job when I was in film. Collecting it from sources that financed much of the propaganda in the industry. I never expected to return to my roots.”

“So why?”

“I guess it’s just what I know. I couldn’t sit idle while I watched him struggle. I knew he was…he was acting against his own best interest for a long time; walking a tightrope. I could see it. I loved him, Alex, as much as he loved you. I hoped… well, obviously what I had hoped never came to pass.”

“How much do you know?”

“Not much. They are cautious and they are connected. My involvement is not so well understood. I simply pass information to the real powers, to Matt, now to Jon. I do know that John was a man of integrity. That, is about the only thing I am sure of anymore.”

“SPHINX?” Alex looked to her friend.

Jane sighed. “Only a little bit. You are right, arms trading, drug trafficking….it raised capital.”

“For?”

“For more operations.”

“Outside of federal funding.”

“Correct,” Jane confirmed.

“To what end?” Alex asked.

“National security. At least that is the answer you will get.”

“How do we stop it?”

Jane stopped again. “Alex, I wish you would let this go. Walk away while you can. Go back to the FBI.”

“I can’t do that.”

The former first lady had expected that response. “I know. But, if you go any deeper, you will have passed the turning back point.”

“I already have. Cassidy and Dylan are already at risk. I can’t ignore that. What makes you think my walking away would be safer for them?”

“I’m not certain it would be. I just want you to know. What you are uncovering…what you are seeking to do…others have been at this for years, John included. Look at…”

Alex nodded. “What do I leave them, Jane? What does it say about me if I turn the other way?”

“It’s a commitment, Alex.”

“Commitment doesn’t scare me, Jane.”

“You can’t tell Cassidy everything. It will put her at greater risk.”

“No.”

“Alex…”

“Jane…It’s not up for discussion. I will be cautious. I won’t lie to Cassidy. There is no greater commitment for me than to her.”

The older woman nodded her understanding. “If you are serious, Alex, you will need to go in as…”

“I understand, part of The Collaborative.” Jane nodded. “Call Krause.”

Jane closed her eyes. “I wish you would reconsider.”

“I wish I could.”

Wednesday, May 14th

he doorbell interrupted Cassidy’s task of packing for the coming trip. She was looking forward to a short getaway with Alex, even if it did entail a stuffy political dinner. She set aside the dress in her hands and headed for the door. She couldn’t help silently musing about all the years traveling, attending social functions, meeting foreign dignitaries and world leaders. Most people would find that exciting and intriguing. For a while it had been. She smiled inwardly as she admitted to herself that watching Alex and Dylan engaged in some silly video game was far more exciting and intriguing to her than any trip she had ever taken with the congressman. She shook her head slightly at the amusing thought and opened the door.